Gigabyte 7600GS w/HDMI Review - PAGE 1

HDMI (high-definition multimedia interface) and HDCP (high-bandwidth digital content protection) have run into a myriad of problems, especially when it comes to connecting high definition devices to personal computers. Computer manufacturers have been late in adapting to HDMI because it simply does not offer much more than DVI for consumers. Justifiably, companies didn't have much to gain from HDMI capabilities since it was created as much for its protection features than its added performance over other mediums. However, it seems now HDMI is reaching further into HD realm in a big way as the larger film studio and software producers try to utilize its unique copy protection to safeguard their content.

A while back in late 2005, ATI and Nvidia both claimed to have released HDCP-compliant cards, though technically not all their cards at that point onwards would necessarily support HDCP. Basically while their GPUs were HDCP compatible, the graphic boards also needs decryption keys in order to work, which ATI and Nvidia did not provide and which individual board manufacturers would have to include on their own. In the time between now and then, there have more cards with true HDMI-HDCP capability and Gigabyte have created one of them. The GV-NX76G256HI-RH or otherwise known as Gigabyte's 7600 GS with HDMI has all the necessary components to get HD quality out of your rig, so long as you have a HDMI TV or monitor to match it.

While Gigabyte has used both ATI and Nvidia graphic processors in the past, they've become somewhat low key in the production of new video cards. In recent years, names like Sapphire, XFX, BFG and others have come to the forefront of video card manufacturing while Gigabyte hasn't pushed its brand in the area as much. While the 7600 GS with HDMI isn't likely to propel Gigabyte to the top, there is definitely a market for this card among avid HD junkies who have been dieing to get their hands on a legitmate HDMI-HDCP card. However there is a premium to pay of course for the HD functionality. Retailing online in the $165-175 range, you'll have to pay a bit more than a regular 7600 GS. This price difference probably won't deter the majority of people in the market for a true HD card that happens to also be completely passively cooled, so read on!